Almost right after the KMOX-broadcast conference call in which Dave Checketts announced that the St. Louis Blues were for sale, the guys on the radio said the “M-Word:” Moving. Noooo, Canada’s going to steal the Blues just like they’re going to steal the Thrashers and Coyotes!

Um, no.

Here are just a few reasons why:

The Blues have been in St. Louis for well over 40 years. They’ve been in significantly worse straits than this. The Laurie’s nearly killed the franchise with idoitic moves. They viewed it as just a springboard for an NBA team that wasn’t ever going to happen. Purina? Sure, they’re a sponsor now, but one of the years they owned them, the Blues didn’t even bother to show up for a draft. If they can survive that stupidity, they can overcome anything – except apparently injuries and the 2nd round of the playoffs.

There isn’t the panic-attack urgency that there is in Phoenix and Atlanta.

It’s a very attractive market. The Blues have sold out every home game this season. Fans care, fans believe (to a degree) in the current re-build. And fans have deep-rooted attachments to this team. They’re not a new franchise. People root for the Blues because their parents do; their parents cheer for the Blues because their parents did. It’s part of the community.

It’s not a gamble. It’s not a non-traditional market. It’s not a bad team, or at the very least the problems aren’t irreparable. There’s buzz still around these guys and what they can do when they’re healthy. And besides – who doesn’t like a fixer-upper? At least this one’s not a money pit. Whoever decides to buy it, be it metro money or just someone who wants a hockey team as a hobby, will be getting a good deal.